[ARCHIVE 2018 to 2019] Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi {MDV}
#1846
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Not sure when they added the following. But this is now posted on the website. Though is it buried on the Policy page most (including myself) never read.
It is interesting that they list it as per way. If they are not going to allow any private docking ever person will need round trip. So why list it as each way and not just as a single transfer (to and from) cost?
Transfer Charge
A shared transfer on the resort's yacht is US $350 subject to 23.2% tax and service charge per adult per way from Velana International Airport. This charge will be added to your total bill.
Waiting time prior to the transfer may vary from 30-60 minutes as the transfer is combined with other guests. We appreciate your understanding.
Alternatively, a private transfer is available upon request, kindly contact reservations at [email protected] for the transfer charges.
Please note that due to privacy and safety reasons, resort does not permit outside boats for transfers.
It is interesting that they list it as per way. If they are not going to allow any private docking ever person will need round trip. So why list it as each way and not just as a single transfer (to and from) cost?
Transfer Charge
A shared transfer on the resort's yacht is US $350 subject to 23.2% tax and service charge per adult per way from Velana International Airport. This charge will be added to your total bill.
Waiting time prior to the transfer may vary from 30-60 minutes as the transfer is combined with other guests. We appreciate your understanding.
Alternatively, a private transfer is available upon request, kindly contact reservations at [email protected] for the transfer charges.
Please note that due to privacy and safety reasons, resort does not permit outside boats for transfers.
Last edited by Traveler Dave; Aug 8, 2019 at 9:31 pm
#1847
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
That just shows you they are setting double standards. It's not as if this is a situation where a particular staff member is acting against their policy, their policy being let everyone come in however they want. To date everything has been the total opposite for common folks trying to arrange a transfer. So this is what we know so far;
* If you are a pleb (no $) - Diamond or otherwise: screw you and your speedboat transfer! We'll even be as compassionate as to offer you a refund of your points a day before you are due to check in. And hey, that's pretty damn compassionate, after all, it is the Maldives - you can just stay at a hotel in Male for your 2-week visit. There are a ton of them and lots of availability!
* If you have a chartered yacht (appear to be affluent): we'll allow you to dock. Note: for the clapping hands welcome amenity, we roll a 20-sided die and if you get a '1' you'll have won the privilege to experience it
* If you're a rich Arab with your own yacht (very affluent): you'll receive a very warm welcome with clapping hands where you get your own space at the dock (provided it's small enough that it can sail into the shallow waters of the lagoon)
Last edited by MaldivesFreak; Aug 9, 2019 at 12:28 am Reason: Edited to reflect TD's 'luck of the draw' ;-)
#1848
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
TD
#1849
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 29
A few more ridiculous experiences last night and this morning and we are ready to leave.
Last edited by NYC_1; Aug 8, 2019 at 11:26 pm
#1852
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Reading some of the bizarre accounts in this thread we are strongly considering to cancel our stay. It is in April next year so we won't touch it for now -- hopefully these issues will be ironed out over the next six months or so. And perhaps they'll lower the insane transfer cost by then as well...
#1853
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Just my opinion, but having stayed there for 10 days I would say you made a bad call. The hard and soft product are amazing. Perfect? No. I have been to several 5* resorts. None have been perfect.
Deja vu.....I posted a similar post saying almost exactly the same thing a month or two ago.
Last edited by MaldivesFreak; Aug 9, 2019 at 12:33 am
#1854
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Back in Hell
Posts: 4,178
Paparazzi on a rubbish boat? Oh wait.....that does make sense. LMAO!
#1855
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
Because some (many, most?) will stop reading at "A shared transfer on the resort's yacht is US $350", which sounds much better than "... is $862.40".
#1856
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
I would say saving $1,100 dollars is a bit more than “cutting some costs”. $1,100 could book a week long cruise with a balcony with all food included.
#1857
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
For those trying to calculate the transfer cost, I created the below algorithm:
Transfer Cost = ((($350*W) *110%)*112%)*P
W=# of ways
P=# of people
Transfer Cost = Haha sucker
What is funny is the Holiday Inn is 15km further from Male than the Waldorf and they list the round trip transfer cost inclusive taxes at $229USD. They also allow 3rd party transfer since so many people complain about how high the transfer cost is haha. What I could not find out of the 1,700 reviews was anyone complaining about their privacy being infringed from a 3rd party boat.
#1858
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 89
Niiiice!
And like I said before, they could have made a concerted effort not to appear like the greedy so and sos that we now know they are, but no. This stinks and is akin to royalty refusing entry of a rich peasant into their castle. "Eeewww, no. We don't wan't him!"
Just to make it perfectly clear for folks reading this thread, @BLTraveler isn't less worthy than anyone else, it's just an example of how he is being treated.
And like I said before, they could have made a concerted effort not to appear like the greedy so and sos that we now know they are, but no. This stinks and is akin to royalty refusing entry of a rich peasant into their castle. "Eeewww, no. We don't wan't him!"
Just to make it perfectly clear for folks reading this thread, @BLTraveler isn't less worthy than anyone else, it's just an example of how he is being treated.
I’m surprise Maldivian Laws allow this kind of restriction since it prevents money from getting to the local economy and instead goes to some foreign corporation.
Update to my situation: After Hilton calling and emailing the resort for about ten hours to try and get the resort to process the refund, the Manager sent me a “generous” offer. Since, I already paid $600 for the nonrefundable transfer to the resort, if I just paid Waldorf an additional $1,100 dollars, they would pick me
up/drop off in Male. Mind you, my plan was to go to a nearby resort after the Waldorf and that I already requested the refund 10 hours earlier. I declined the offer after a good laugh. After frustratingly refreshing my email every 5 minutes for 10 hours for an update, the last place on earth I wanted to be was at the Waldorf. Both Waldorf and Hilton accused each other of not answering phone or emails haha.
At about 12 hours of anxiously waiting for the points to refund, I finally received enough points to book at the Conrad until my next reservation. However, they had issues refunding the 2 weekend certs I used which caused me to have to use my points instead. Certs finally got refunded today but they expire soon and I won’t be able to use them before expiration. I asked if Hilton if they could swap certs for points on the Conrad booking and they said it was not possible.
Losses form this experience:
-$614 non refundable transfer
- 2 weekend certs unused that will expire
- One full day in the Maldives staring a phone trying to resolve situation.
Other tidbits:
- They said they used to allow 3rd party transfers but guests complained about their “privacy”. Pretty sure this is a lie and guests were instead complaining that they paid 300% more for their transfer.
- Waldorf said they will look into contacting guests sooner and adding info to the website clearly stating prices and transfer restriction. Good idea, but hopefully it shows up prominently during the booking process on the website and mobile app.
#1859
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Seoul, KR
Programs: MAR Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 572
Jesus... it was extremely difficult to switch my booking from Conrad to Waldorf for a weekly stay in late Feb. But now I feel I might need to switch back with great risk to lose both of them...!
#1860
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 158
I feel like I've never seen the CMRI not have award availability, and if I have, it's rare. It's like that resort was built to function as a points sink.